Battery filler



Patented Oct. 28, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT ',OF'FICE" l2,615,607 I lBA'ITERY FILLER u Joseph E. Huskey, Newport, rTenn. l I u ApplicationFebruary 14, 1950, SerialNo. 144,129 u y 1 claim. (o1. zzp-19) f 'I'his invention relates` to battery fillers, and more'particularly to a ller for adding waterto la'wet cell storage battery.

VIt is among'the objects of the invention 4to provide an improved battery filler which will raise the liquid level in a battery cell to a predetermined level above the battery plates and will avoid' overiilling the battery and spilling the water or electrolyte, which will not rob the battery of any electrolyte or mix electrolyte with the water in the iiller, which is adjustable tov vary the level of the battery liquid above the battery plates', and which is simple and durablek in construction, economical to manufacture, positive in yoperationand easy to use.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following description and the appended claim in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

VFigurer 1 is a longitudinal medial cross section of a vbattery ller illustrative of the invention showing the iiller in operative association with Va battery cell for filling the latter;

Figure 2 is a transverse crosssectionalfview` on the` line 2-2 of Figure 1;

FigureS is a longitudinal cross sectional ,view

- of a fragmentary portion of the filler spout taken on Athe line 3-3 of Figure 2 with thevalve in a Figure 6 is a cross sectional view similar to `Figure 4 with the valve in the operative position ,shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a cross sectional view similar to Figure 3 with the valve in an operative position f different from the positions illustrated in Figures 3 and 5; and

Figure 8 is a cross sectional view similar to 'Figure 4 with the valve in the` operative position illustrated in Figure 7. i

With continued reference to the drawing, the filler comprises a hollow container I0 which is preferably somewhat elongated in order to facilitate the handling of the filler` and has a flat end wall I I and a domed end wall I2. The domed end wall I2 is provided, substantially at its cen' ter, with an opening surrounded by an externally protruding boss or neck I3 having external screw threads thereon. p

-An elongated spout, generally indicated at I4, is connected at one end to the neck I3 and extends outwardly from the container I0. This spout has at` one end an enlarged, `preferably cylindrical lportion I5 provided in its end with an internally .screw threaded socket I6 which receives the externally screw threaded neck I3 ofthe container,

' a iiat gasket AI1 being interposed between the end of the neck I3 and the bottom of the socket: I6 to provide a iiuid tight joint between the container and the spout. Outwardly of the enlarged portion I5 the spout comprisesga tapering portion I8 of reduced cross sectional 'area or diameter the smaller end `of which is of-a size to passA easily through the cap boss I9 of a battery cell, generally indicated at 20.

Two' bores 2| and 22 extend longitudinally through thespout |4Vin spaced apart, substantially parallel relationship to each other, the bore 2| being somewhat larger in cross sectional area than the bore r22. Both of these bores extend to the bottomoi the socket I6 and communicate with the interior of the container I0. A tube 23 is inserted at one end into a counterbore provided I in theV bore 22 at the socketend of this bore and this tube extends through the container to a location adjacent the fiat bottom wall II for the purpose of admitting air into the upper portion of the container above the battery liquid. such as distilled water 24 in the container. Y,

A tapered valve aperture 25 extends transversely through 4the spout I4 intermediate the length thereof and intersects both of the bores 2| and 22. A tapered valve plug 26 is rotatably mounted in the aperture 25 andheld in seated engagement with the aperture by suitable means, such as'the spring washer 21 overlying the smaller end of the plug and marginally engaging the spout around the smaller end of the valve aperk yture and a nut 28 threaded onto a screw 29 projecting from the smaller end of the plug 26 and bearing on the outer side ofthe spring washer 21.

`The plug 26 is provided at its larger end with a turning handle 30 and is provided intermediate 'its length with a transverse aperture or passage 3 I lwhich registers with the bore 2 I when the valve plug is in therotational position relative kto the spout I4 illustrated in Figures l and 4. When the plug is in thisv rotational position the transf verse aperture 3| provides a continuation of the .-bore 2| through the plug receiving aperture 25,

but when the plug is in a different rotational po-v sition, as illustrated in Figure '6, the bore 2| is interrupted by the valve plug. f

At the location of the bore 22 the valve plu is provided with two transverse apertures or passages 32 and 33 which are preferably disposed substantially `perpendicular to each other and intersect at the center of the plug. With the valve plug in the rotational position relative to the spout, as illustrated in Figures l and 3, the transverse aperture 33 provides a continuation of the bore 22 through the valve plug while the aperture 32 is out of registry with the bore 22. At a. rotational position of the valve plug substantially QOYdegreesfrom that illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 the bore 32 provides a continuation for the bore 22, the bore 2| being at this time interrupted, as illustrated in Figure 8. At other rotational positions of the valve plug relative to the spout I4 both of the bores 2| and 22 are interrupted as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6.

The two bores 2| and 22 extend to a location near the smaller end of the spout I4 or the end of the spout remote from the container I0 and at this location an aperture or passage 34 extends transversely of the spout and intersects both of the bores 2| and 22. This passage 34 opens at oneend to the surface of the spout adjacent the bore 22 and extends transversely of the spout tothey bore 2I`but does not extend beyond the bore 2 I. The portion of the aperture 34 between the bore 22 and the open end cf the aperture is made larger than the remainder of the aperture, as indicated at 35, for a purpose which will presently appear.

A foot 36 in the form of a flatplate which is preferably of circular shape, isy spaced from the smaller end of the spout I4 and adjustably secured to the spout by a screw threadedshank 31 which is secured at one end to the foot plate 36 near the edge of the latter and is threaded into a. screw threaded well which extends inwardly from the smaller end of the spout I4.

In using the battery filler the plate 36 is adjusted relative to the spout so that' the distance between the outer surface of this plate and the side of the enlarged end portionv35 of the aper ture 34 remote from the plate will be equal to the distance that the fluid level in the battery cell to be filled is above the upper ends of the battery plates 38. With water in the container I0 and with the valve plug 25 rotated to a position at which both of thebores 2| and 22 are closed, the outer'or distal end of the spout I4 is inserted through the opening-in the battery cap boss I9 and the foot 36 brought to rest on the upper ends of the battery plates. The valve plug 26 is then rotated by means of the handle 30 to a position at which both of the bores 2| and 22 extend continuously through the valve plug and, if the level' of the electrolyte in the battery cell is below the predetermined level, liquid will flow from the container I0 through the bore 2| into the battery cell. At the` same time, air from the space in the cell above the level of the electrolyte will ow through the enlarged end portion 35 of the aperture 34 into the lower end of the bore 22 and upwardly through this bore and the tube 23`to replace the liquid, such as distilled water-,flowing from the container into the battery cell. As soon as the liquid level in the battery cell reaches the upper side of the enlarged end portion of the aperture 34 the ilow of air'into the open endV of this aperture will be cut ofi' and water from the bore 2| and aperture 34 will vthen flow upwardly in the bore 22 until the pressure in the two` bores 2| and 22 is balanced and further 4flow of water from the bore 2| into the battery cell is discontinued. The valve plug 26 is then rotated to a position in which both of the bores 2| and 22 are interrupted and the spout is removed from the battery cell.

'ille of this patent:

Before the battery filler can again be used the water must be discharged from the bore 22. In order to accomplish this the valve plug is turned to a position such that the bore 22 is continued through the valve plug by the aperture 32 while the bore 2| remains interrupted. By shaking the filler or inverting it, the water will be discharged from the bore 22 and the valve plug is then turned to a position closing both of the bores 2| and 22. The battery filler is now ready for further use.

With this arrangement the flow of water into the battery cell is terminated as soon as the liquid level in the cell has reached the predetermined height, the cell is not robbed of electrolyte and no electrolyte, such as battery acid, is drawn into the filler and neither the water nor the electrolyte is spilled during the operation of filling the battery cells.

The invention may be embodied' inother specie forms without departing froml the spirit; or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects asA illustrative and not restrictive. .the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claim rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claim are, therefore, intended 'toy be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

A battery filler comprising a container having a neck, an elongated spout detachably secured at one end to said container and removable from the container for filling the latter and having vtwo independent bores extending longitudinally thereof, each of said bores communicating at one end with the interior of said container, a tube extending from the container end of one of said bores into said container to alocation adjacent the other end of the latter, saidl spout also having adjacent its end remote from said container a transverse aperture opening at one end to the side surface of said spout and connected to both of said bores with an enlarged portion at its open end and said spout having intermediate its length a transversely extending valve bore, a manually rotatable valve plug disposed in said valve bore and havingA apertures extending transversely therethrough for continuing said longitudinal bores when saidvalve plug is in a predetermined rotational position' relative to said spout, the transverse aperturesin said valve plug being 'so arranged that both of said bores can be continued, both can be interrupted, or one bore can be continued while the other is interrupted at different rotational positionsrof said plug relative to said spout, a footplate spaced from the end of said spout opposite said container and adapted to rest upon the upper ends of the plates of a battery cell to space the open end of said aperture a predetermined distance above the upper ends o f the plates, and a screw adjustably connecting said'footplate to said spout.

JOSEPH E. HUSKEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,216,786 Eaken Feb. 20, 1917 2,360,565 Kerr. e Oct.'17, 1944 

